To those who find this lockdown not much different to their normal lives

[Sometimenever100]

I’m asking because I’m curious- no judgements here! To those who say they find lockdown not much different to their normal lives (except DC being at home and aside from work arrangements) In normal times didn’t you even chat to friends, see family, go shopping (not food) enjoy a national trust or park, eat out, go for coffee, invite friends or other children over, visit friends where a longer drive was involved, or take your children anywhere other than local walks?
Again no judgements as everyone lives life differently, I am just so surprised that lots of people on other threads are saying lockdown is not really different to normal for them.

[SpicedCamomile]

What I was trying to say, above, is life isn’t very different at any given moment, or week, but obviously taken as a long term thing it would be.

[longearedbat]

We are retired and don't see much difference. My parents are dead, as are many other members of my family, so that's one avenue of socialisation that went some time ago. We live rurally and like rural pursuits - visiting shops for pleasure rather than necessity is my idea of hell. There are no coffee shops around here either.
The only thing I miss is not having a holiday to look forward to, other than that I am quite happy cultivating the garden, walking the dog and chatting on the phone.

[CaptainMyCaptain]

I'm retired so work isn't an issue except I should have been invigilating GCSEs and A levels and that won't be happening. I miss seeing my family, meeting up with friends and going shopping otherwise it's life as normal with a daily dog walk, gardening, sewing, reading etc. I spoke to an ex-colleague who is also a friend yesterday. She is shut in with her older husband who has dementia, among other problems, and spends her days having the same conversation over and over again without being able to get out and see family or receive visitors. Her life must be absolute hell, I couldn't do it.

[ellanwood]

OP, it doesn't feel very different to me.
I work from home most of the time and often have clients from other areas or countries so we meet via Skype.
DH also works from home and is very set in his ways - he likes to do the weekly food shop, so I don't even go out to do that. I'm very unmaterialistic and low maintenance - haircut twice a year. I go into town to shop for about two hours once a month and get my brows threaded then.
I don't have many friends, and those I do have I tend to meet up with about once a month. I don't go to the cinema as it is hugely overpriced round here and we were given a huge TV so the quality at home is the same.

I miss the classes I went to - but I am naturally very unsporty so although I love them when I do them, I can live without them and the other classes were in subjects designed to push me and I found them quite stressful so felt a bit of relief when they were cancelled.

We are lucky to have stunning walks on our doorstep and go for those every day. We cook good food, eat in the garden, have BBQs, film nights, quizzes, game nights. DC are very musical and planning a concert for my birthday.

[Fortyfifty]

Someone above pointed out that many people don't have other people to do things with and I think that hits the nail on the head.

[NewYearNewTwatName]

I've moved around quite a lot, so staying in touch with friends and family has mainly being long distance any way.

when the DC were younger pre primary and most of primary, I had built up a good network of support and friends locally.

I always took DC out to places every weekend, the beach, museums, NT, parks, Soft play out of school activities and clubs. But to be honest I did it because I felt it was my duty as a parent and it definitely was a chore for me to do.

the last time we moved itvwas to somewhere quite isolated and DC were older to so hard for me to crack established groups. plus it meant even more input from me to arrange things for them. As they have got older they sort their own social life out.

if you meet me you wouldn't know I'm and introvert, I'm not shy and make lots of happy acquaintance easily. But I rarely allow it to go farther. The ones I do is because we really do click and they are usually similar to me in that they also moved about bit, and then one of us usually ends up moving away But those friendships are special and we keep in touch no matter where we are. we might meet up a few times a year or not see each other for a year or so.

I'm an outdoors person so am happy pottering at the stables, going on long dog walks etc.

I've never liked shopping, I'm not into make up, hair styles, manicured nails. sitting in crowed nosey cafe with over expensive coffee for no reason, just seems stupid to me.

yes I go the cinema occasionally or drive along way to see a friend or family, or go on a nice outing. Yes I've had spa days. but none of it is what I live for. I do not depend on these things to make my life meaningful, and can take them and leave them very easily.

I'm content in my own skin and my own life.

[AliciaWhiskers]

I used to go for a coffee every day to journal. I thought I would really, really miss that, but it turns out I don’t. I am glad I’m saving myself £3 a day and I doubt I’ll go back to doing that when this is over. I would occasionally see family but I don’t miss doing that. I wouldn’t see friends often so no difference there. Yes I would go shopping occasionally but out of necessity rather than it being a hobby or something for enjoyment. The thing I’m finding hardest is not being able to leave The house more than once a day to just have a walk, watch the sunset etc, but I’ve taken to walking laps around my postage stamp size garden and that’ll do for now. I’m actually not much looking forward to normal life. I like my smaller life. I love how it’s so quiet out and how I can hear the birds all the time.

I thought I would be the opposite! I think for me the key is that I no longer have to make decisions. I struggle massively with indecision and right now pretty much all my decisions are made for me. I have strict rules to follow, and it turns out I thrive with that. Our 2 weeks of self isolation when DS has a cough was the easiest by far. No choices. No options. Walking laps around the garden.

[OrangeSamphire]

The only real day to day difference for us is that the children are home. Although I have home educated one of my children before, having them both home is epically hard work.

One of my children is disabled and the other is autistic. So we don’t go to other people’s houses as all too often they aren’t wheelchair accessible. And we don’t have friends over here as my autistic child can’t stand the noise.

We live in a small coastal village so it’s WFH, dog walks, deliveries from the farm shop as per usual.

Not missing shops. We’re not big buyers of stuff. We don’t go to cinemas or ‘attractions’ - too noisy, too many people, not as much fun as being on the beach, in sea, hiking etc.

It’s different. But not wildly so.

[AliciaWhiskers]

I should add that I do work 2 days a week so have to leave the house then and get to chat to work colleagues.

Kids are finish to hard though. Especially DS1 who has ASD. So I kind of have to cope and be okay to make it okay for him. He is the priority.

[WaterIsWide]

Not such a huge difference for me, either. My husband and I aren't that sociable because we don't have anyone to socialise with. We're the original, 'quarantine couple' anyway.

We like to go to the cinema or theatre or pub or restaurant occasionally but not so much that we miss it. Perversely, I catch myself fancying a drink at our local pub and getting a takeaway on the way home. Both are in walking distance to home.

Oh, and I am most certainly NOT BORED. Are people really so reliant on outside stimuli or they just 'fall apart' ?

I've got loads to do before I get anywhere near my hobbies. Yes, even now after all this time on lockdown.

I'm still looking forward to listening to a cd and reading a book. I can't do any of that yet because I've got life admin to do.

Mon-Thur I do 2 hours of exercise in the morning. I then take a walk with my husband who is WFH. I shower and eat lunch with him. He goes back to his desk. I tidy up.

I entertain myself in the afternoon watching obscure comedies on YouTube whilst reading MN. If I have a little snooze then so be it.

My husband finishes his working day at the normal time. Then we'll watch t.v. before making and eating tea.

Lockdown life and non-lockdown life isn't so different. Normally I'd take my husband to the train station as he commutes to work. I collect him in the evening. I would be working too but that was a temp job.

I had another temp job but that ended on 25 March. I'm applying for other jobs and I got a rejection e-mail yesterday. I don't know how the logistics of it would have worked anyway in the lock down but hey.

[Fortyfifty]

My usual week before lockdown: work with 1 colleague only. See 1 friend for exercise once per week (we now do it via video conference ) Week days are spent taking teen dc to sports some nights, other nights watch TV. Weekends we have games night or film night and we both cook interesting meals on weekends. Weekends are spent taking dc to sports during the day. Other times DH and I will go out or I'll go out for a walk and coffee with dc. Every 4-6weeks we'd see another couple for dinner.

Our lives are quite contained. Not by choice - family live 200 miles away and friends were hard to make in this area. Mostly the people who live here have never lived anywhere else - they already have life long friends and family.

Life with teenagers is hectic and much revolves around them. Lockdown means we've all slowed down and enjoyed spending time with each other like we do when we have holidays. I'm not saying I don't want lockdown to end but I'm not pining for anything, just getting on with day to day life, working from home, cooking, watching TV, doing the garden, doing online, walking the dog. It's not that different.

[Fortyfifty]

doing online shopping

[RoscoePColtrane]

It has only been 6 weeks. I'm sure that if you are a person who normally spends every day drinking coffee with school run friends and every afternoon at your mum's or shopping, you would find it hard. I have a full time job (which I am still doing) a child, a home to run - I don't have masses of spare time in a normal week so this is relatively normal for me.

[Overthinker1988]

I do all of the things you've listed (apart from the child stuff) but not all the time. Lockdown for us feels like that time between Christmas and New Year when it's a really slow pace of life and nothing much happens. Except, we are still working.
Both DH and I can do our jobs from home so we're still doing our usual 9-5, same work, just not in the office.

Still taking the dog for walks, but not going very far other than our local park.

Still talk to friends and family but on FaceTime, Facebook and WhatsApp. Our families don't live locally so we don't see them all the time anyway. A lot of my friends live far away too as I've moved around quite a lot, the ones that live near me I sometimes don't see for a couple of months anyway as we all have busy jobs and lives.

I rarely go shopping, I do miss going to my hobby classes though, and swimming.

In our free time we're reading lots, watching TV, playing board games, doing crosswords and sudoko, baking, and I'm painting and drawing which I don't normally get much time for.

Coronavirus and anxiety about the future aside, I'm enjoying myself and my mental health is loads better with the slower pace of life.
I'm genuinely surprised at how many of my friends and colleagues are bored and unable to cope without constant external stimulation and social contact.
I don't mean that in a judgemental way, it's just that I grew up as an only child with a single working parent and I'm a bit of an introvert so I've always been able to entertain myself and enjoy my own company. I think lockdown has been really interesting from a psychology point of view.

[WriteAndErase]

I have minimal friends and the ones I do have I don't actively seek conversation from them.

I have zero interest in making friends with people simply because our kids were spawned in the same year.

My life in lockdown isn't much different at all. Our son has autism and so we go to very few public places due to them being too much for him.
We spend a lot of time at home in an average week.

Obviously now and then we go on a drive to a beach or visit family or pop into the city but this is once or twice a month.

We don't go to restaurants. We probably went to McDonald's far too much and this will help us cut that back a lot.

I like my quiet basic life.

[Bigfishylittlefishy]

The only thing that has changed for me is work/school.
I rarely eat out, never go for a coffee, NEVER go shopping (my idea of hell).... shopping malls, just hell.
Weekends involve seeing my sister/nieces & nephews/parents. I have been busy completing an OU degree and love nothing more than a book to occupy my time.

Work involves me delivering presentations to large amounts of people, sometimes hundreds so it’s not like I’m particularly shy or massively introverted.

I just love the simple things. I’m 31, have three kids, quite career orientated and quite content at home with my husband.

[Widowodiw]

I’m a widow nearly two years now and my life has been like this since he died. Nobody wants to hang out with the dead mans family so all friends and family disappeared. Apart from work and the children’s social life I don’t go anywhere for myself. I’ve spent two years with the children if I’m not at work, I’m with them. You may find it sad , but I’m the one whose laughing as I’m not struggling with lockdown like so many people are.

[burnoutbabe]

@NorthernLass75
We're the same, professional couple, no kids so now both working from home, yes not seen friends and family but chatted to them as much as usual and we'd probably see them every other month anyway so visits just overdue. End feb I saw my parents and jan his. So doesn't feel that long,
Yes can't eat out every week like we did before or do Sunday brunch out at a cafe or cinema but we are using Deliveroo tons for usual local places and watching movies like sky amazon etc.
Luckily hobbies are home based (gaming for me) so happy to stay at home.
Would be fine staying in lockdown for a while longer. Even after they relax it. I imagine many will, people will still wfh if they can and be out a lot less so the spread remains lower.

[Bigfishylittlefishy]

I don’t think the OP found it sad, she was just asking a question and showing interest in to how others live.

[Seelowbrown]

I’m not too bad with it to be honest. I do have a reasonable social life when it is available but happy to laze around at the weekends and work has kept me busy during the week. I could easily do another month of this but would want to see family etc after that so good if there is an exit strategy. I would hope that we would only do this once it is a little more safe to do so.

[Bagelsandbrie]

It’s not much different for me. I don’t have any friends (introvert) and don’t enjoy meeting up with people. I don’t go out in the evenings (health issues which mean I get tired easily). I have dh and dc and they’re all I need. The only thing I miss really is being able to browse a garden centre or the shops occasionally. I hate all the lining up outside for ages etc. But apart from that not missing much!! I know the dc are though.

[Mawbags]

I’m a SAHM with temporary mobility issues, so can’t go that far anyway!
My husband works from home.
My kids are unsociable homeloving types who love being at home when not at school. FOR NOW we are stable financially.
My parents live at the other end of the country.

I am the one suffering the most emotionally as I’m quite outgoing but am busying myself helping my children so.... I guess life isn’t as tough as it is for many.

I have no idea how most people cope.

[SinisterBumFacedCat]

Apart from not working and having DS off school not that much has changed. I have a few friends but we are all a bit scattered out now and don’t meet very often. I only see my Mum regularly all over family meet up for big events occasionally but mainly email. I avoid pubs and parties, I find them exhausting, I end up feeling awkward most of the time! So, nice I don’t have to make an excuse.

I am very happy at home with DH and DS. What I will miss is our little trips out together to the seaside for a few days. Also there was a couple of gigs I was looking forward to that won’t be happening now. It’s nice to have the time at home now and not feel pressurised that we should be out “doing something”.

[HasaDigaEebowai]

Mine isn't that different. I run a business from home (solicitor) and probably only have a couple of client meetings a week now since they are increasingly done over the phone anyway. We live rurally and so shopping deliveries and online purchases were always easier. I like reading, interior design and gardening and so was always happiest pottering around the house anyway. I hate shopping and so don't go wandering around the clothes shops. DC are teens but the school has a massive catchment area (independent) and so most of their social stuff is school organised/related rather than them just "going out".

Most of my family contact was via facetime anyway and I still speak to my friends regularly - its just on facetime/zoom now rather than in person. But even before lockdown I only saw friends once every couple of weeks.

We are lucky in that we have land which includes private woodland and so we can take the dog for walks etc without leaving home.

I'm quite content to be honest. I do however worry about the massive impact this is all going to have on the economy. I think we are in for a very serious recession.

[LastTrainEast]

Retired, disabled and with my family spread around the country so I normally only speak to delivery people face to face. Everything else is online. I don't even have a garden to sit in and talk to neighbours.

I'm not complaining as I am used to it, but when people say they have not been out with friends for a whole 3 weeks and can't take it any more I'm unimpressed.

I do feel for those with kids and no garden. That must be hard.